MOSCOW, December 24. /TASS/. The advent of a new administration in the United States will not guarantee a prompt settlement of the Ukrainian conflict, regardless of the pledges made by US President-elect Donald Trump, the general director of the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC), Ivan Timofeyev, said at the conference Foreign Policy Results of 2024 - RIAC City Breakfast.

"The US remains a major player on the world stage. The change of administration plays a significant role," he noted. "Although US President Donald Trump himself says he wants to resolve the Ukrainian issue, I think we should not have any illusions regarding his administration."

Timofeyev recalled that even during his first presidency, which proceeded in more favorable geopolitical conditions and without a personnel crisis, Trump pursued a hardline approach in relations with Russia.

"We still lack clarity regarding the parameters of the position of Trump and his administration on the Ukrainian issue and what they are planning to do," Timofeyev noted. "It goes without saying that any movement toward peace will require concessions by the West."

Latent goals of peace talks

Timofeyev drew attention to one of the main issues to be addressed in settling the Ukrainian conflict and resuming peace talks: "What will the new administration be ready to do to resolve the differences between the parties?"

According to the RIAC head, the Trump administration will be pressing for a ceasefire in order to use the truce to rebuild Ukraine and weaken Russia: "A ceasefire will definitely not imply the lifting of the economic blockade by the West or any meaningful easing of sanctions against Russia."

"The ceasefire will give Ukraine an opportunity to rearm and recover in order to ultimately have the freedom of choice in terms of deciding whether to resume the military conflict," he warned.